Before embarking on his winemaking career, Tokyo-born Hiroyuki (known as Hiro) Kusuda trained as a lawyer, worked for Fujitsu and worked at the Consulate General of Japan in Sydney. Hiro sought a winemaking education in English, but was dissuaded by the fees that foreign students were charged at Davis in California and Roseworthy in Austrlia. Instead, he went to Germany, learned the language, enrolled at Geisenheim and then emigrated to New Zealand to work as an assistant to his friend Kai Schubert, who had been a few years ahead of him at Geisenheim. This led him to the tiny town of Martinborough to pursue both the Riesling and Pinot grapes – to which a third challenge, Syrah, has now been added. Obviously the main market for Kusuda is Japan, where they have developed a cult following, and indeed whence comes the volunteer labour force at harvest time when every grape is rigorously checked before making the cut. Hiro Kusuda is meticulous to an almost fanatical degree, but it explains the exceptional quality and amazing precision of his wines.

Kusuda Martinborough Riesling 2023
11.7% abv
The 2023 Riesling will not be released for another year (approximately August 2024). I can tell you that’s a sad thing to have to wait because the wine is looking sensational. It has all the laser focus and crystalline purity that Riesling can achieve with ease, yet it is built around a textural core of fine phenolics. This is a complex, kaleidoscopic wine that will evolve (if the older vintages I have looked at here today are any indication) with slow grace and finesse. It’s a “wow” wine. Go forth.
95+ Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
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2023 | Australasia | Bonded | Kusuda | Martinborough | New Zealand | Riesling | Still | White | WineImportant. This is a bonded product and is priced exclusive of Duty and VAT. Wines must be purchased by the unmixed case. The case size is detailed in the Product Details. After purchase we will contact you to arrange either the wine's continued storage in a bonded warehouse as designated by HM Customs & Excise or for the payment of the pertinent Duty and VAT, where after delivery can be arranged. Transfer & delivery fees will be charged at cost.
- Reference #:
- 22949_B
- Strength
- 11.7 ABV
- Bottles per Case
- 6 bottles
- Grapes
- Riesling
- Organic
- No
- Biodynamic
- No
- Vegan
- No
- Vegetarian
- No
- Sparkling
- No
